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24 November 2015

FEATURE: Winter cycling

Two
wheels, one life.

Say
that cycling is good for the environment, helps reduce congestion,
and is a great way to stay fit and active, and you'll hear no
arguments from us. We're all keen cyclists here; from those of us
that cycle every day to the office, to casual riders who hit the
mountainous trails at the weekend. However, as much fun as it is,
cycling can get dangerous in the Winter, with darker nights and cold,
icy conditions. To that end we've gathered together a bunch of kit
that has helped to keep us pedaling away and – crucially – stay
alive.

Over-board
Pro-Vis Waterproof Backpack

First
up we have a couple of backpacks, both of which are designed for
extreme wet weather. This effort from Over-board, the Pro-Vis 20
litre Backpack, comes in high-visibility green (orange also
available) and features a roll and lock top to keep every drop of
water the winter roads can throw at you out. The bag has a Class 3
IP66 waterproof rating, meaning that it doesn't just 'resist' water,
it is completely sealed against moisture ingress and will actually
float if submerged.

It
features a quick-release elasticated webbing on the front –
excellent for attaching your helmet, a small strap for affixing a
rear bike light, reflective strips on both the backpack and the
shoulder straps, an inner zip pocket, and two side mesh compartments.
The sternum and waist straps make it a very sturdy fit, while the
ventilated back section will stop you from overheating.

We
seriously love this bag and have gotten quite used to the
roll-and-clip sealing top (demonstrated in the video). The Over-board
Pro-Vis Waterproof Backpack is the best of both worlds in that it
will keep you stuff nice and dry, while also helping to keep you safe
thanks to the high-visibility design.

Whereas
the Over-board bag was more about surviving the roughest of
conditions, this backpack from Thule offers a few extra functional
compromises. Also featuring a roll-and-clip top, the Pack 'n Pedal
Commuter Backpack aboasts a removable padded laptop sleeve, a front
zip-pocket with internal pockets for keys and your wallet, a side
mesh pocket for a water bottle, and a hard case ideal for your
glasses and phone.

Seriously,
that hard case on the side is genius – now you never have to worry
about your glasses getting crushed inside your bag, or your phone
screen getting scratched. This pack also has an innovative way to
stow your helmet when not in use. A hide-away mesh layer can be
pulled out and wrapped over the helmet, securing it to the bag. It
also includes a traditional waterproof cover that can be deployed in
the harshest of conditions, and also a sternum strap for your chest.

Although
not fully high-vis, the Thule Pack 'n Pedal Commuter Backpack does
feature several reflective strips around the entire bag, and also a
small strap for attaching a rear light. This bag is perfect if you're
looking for more pockets and functionality, and not too bothered
about total visibility and water tightness.

Being
seen is just as important as being able to see, and no cyclist worth
their salt would venture out onto the roads in Winter without some
bike lights. However, not all lights are the same (as we discovered
last year when we reviewed Brainy Bike Lights) and Blaze is truly
unique. In a nutshell, this is a powerfully bright LED headlamp that
features a laser projector that shines the image of a bicycle onto
the road in front of the user.

According
to Blaze this means that cars and pedestrians will be aware of you
even if they can't yet see you. As most accidents involving cyclists
occur when a car moves into their path, the Blaze helps everyone see
where you're about to be... and by golly does it work. We've all been
cycling with the Blaze attached to our handlebars (it includes an
attachment) for a few weeks now and have really noticed a difference.
Not only is it great to have a strong headlamp (something cyclists
often overlook in favour of blinking visibility lights), but the
laser really does have an effect.

We
discovered that the first time you use Blaze you have to be careful
not to stare at the laser projection all the time, ignoring the
traffic around you. But soon you just accept that it is there and let
it do the job. We've noticed that cars are warier of us, and
pedestrians get a bit of a surprise as a bright green laser bike
dances along the road besides them – helping everyone to pay more
attention to the user. This thing is an absolute winner.

So
your stuff is all nice and dry, you can be seen on the road, and your
lights are brighter and more noticeable than the sun... so how else
can you stay safe? Well, just like more and more motorists are
employing dash cams to keep them legally protected in the event of an
accident, so cyclists can do the same thanks to action cams. We've
been testing one especially designed for cyclists' helmets, the
Stealth HD Action Cam from Drift.

This
tiny HD camera is the perfect size and shape for affixing to either a
helmet or your handlebars. Unlike most action cams it is longer
rather than wide, and crucially the lens can be rotated so the camera
can be mounted at any angle. There is also a choice of settings
beyond the usual 1080p at 30 frames per second, including a pretty
staggering 120 frames per second at VGA quality. You can also take
photos, time lapses, and set a timer.

To
check out the quality of the Drift Stealth 2's video capture we took
a ride with the camera set to the pretty standard (but gloriously
detailed) 1080p. Check out the video below and be sure to watch in
HD.

Hopefully
this is something you'll never actually have to call upon, except to
look back over your daily commute. Still, having a camera
continuously running could keep you safe in a confrontational
situation (drivers can be aggressive dicks sometimes, can't they?)
and will also allow you to present evidence to the police should you
feel your safety was threatened on the road. And, you know, you'll be
able to film funny incidents and upload them to Fail Army.

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The Test Pit is a place where all manner of things get tested... often to destruction. Gadgets, technology, toys, and clothing - all are fair game in the Pit. Our reviews are honest, jargon-free, and funny. Well, we try...